Music-leaf turner.



B. O. HOWELL, J14.

MUSIC LEAF TURNER. APPLICATION FILED 00114, 1908.

Patented June 29, 1909.

2 SHEETSSHE ET l.

B. G. HOWELL, JR. MUSIO LEAP TURNER.

APPLICATION FILED 0011x1908.

926,566. q Patented June 29, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UJETED glCATES Prh l lih BYRON U. HOWELL, JR, OF LEBARON, OHIO.

MUSIEC-LEAF TURNER.

N0. eeaeee.

= with pianos, organs or music stands, whereby the leaves of the music can be easily and quickly turned so that there will be no interruption in the playing.

The invention has for one of its objects to improve and simplify the construction and 1 operation of apparatus of this character so as to be comparatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, reliable and efficient in use, and readily manipulated.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a music leaf turner including a plurality of turning elements so designed and arranged as to support the leaves of the music independently and simultaneously turning the leaves to expose the pages consecutively to the view of the performer.

A further object is the employment of a simple and efficient mechanism for actuatin the leaf-turning elements by the more pressing of a key or lever arranged conveniently within reach of the player.

l'l ith these objects in view and others, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises the various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be more fully described hereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claims a pended hereto.

in the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a front view of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the apparatus. Fig. l is a detail perspective view of a portion of one of the leaf-turning elements and of the means for operating the same. Fig, is a detail perspective view of the releasing and resetting devices for the actuating mechanism.

Similar reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the views.

Referring to the drawings, ii lesignates the frame of the apparatus of any suitable size and design and made of metal or wood. This frame is adapted to be set on the usual music rest of the organ, piano or stand and Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 1a, 1908.

Patented June 29, 1909.

Serial No. 57,6F1.

is covered at its back and bottom with felt 1, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so as to prevent scratching of the music rest. The fram is provided with upper and lower forwaidly-extending bearing arms 2 and 3 that carry a vertical shaft 4 which has collars 5 located immediately under and above the arms 2 and 3 respectively so as to hold the shaft against lon itudinal movement. On the upper end of the shaft is a pulley 6 to which is attached a flexible winding element 7 that has one end connected with an extension spring 8 that actuates the shaft 4: in one direction for effecting the turning of the music-turning elements.

in the present instance, two leaf-turning elements designated generally by B, are employed, but it is to be understood that any other convenient number may be used. These elements are mounted on supporting arms 9 arranged on the top of the frame A and projecting forwardly therefrom. Each element consists of a horizontal bar 10 provided with a pivot 11 which extends upwardly through the adjacent supporting arm 9 and which is formed with a head 12 which bears on the upper surface of the said arm to hold the leaf-turning element in place. On the ends of the horizontal bar 10 of each element are clips 13 consisting of spring jaws which grip the upper edge of a leaf of music, it being understood that each element carries a separate leaf. The heads 12 of the pivots are provided with cranl-z arms 14 that are connected together by a linl: (l so that the leaf-turning elements will move simultancously. This lint: is in the form of a triangular frame having corner pieces 1.5 connected with the pins 16 of tie cranlis 14, and having another corner piece 17 connected with a crank pin 18 carried by the pulley 6, so that as the pulley turns, the frame or llllli will simultaneously turn the elements B. The spring 8 is fastened to a suitable part of the frame, for instance, one of the arms 9, and the tension of the spring is adjusted by a screw 19 extending through the arm and on which is a nut 20 for talting up or letting out the screw.

Vt hen the leaf-turning elements are in set position, the spring 8 is under tension so that the said elements will turn by operating the releasing device. To hold the spring under tension, the shaft 4 is provided adjacent its lower end with a finger 21 *ith which engages a trigger 22 that has a key or lever 23 that is depressed for releasing the trigger, the trigger being fulcrumed at 24 on the lower arm 3 and held in looking position by a leaf spring 25. By actuating this device, the finger 21 is released so that the crank shaft 4 will make a half turn and reverse the leaf-turning elements. On the lower arm 3 is a stop 26 with which the finger 21 engages so as to prevent the shaft 4 from making more than half a turn. On the lower extremity of the shaft 4 is a re-setting device that consists of a T-shaped handle 27 that is located, like the releasing device 22, conveniently close to the keyboard to be actuated by the layer.

In using the apparatus, it wil be assumed that the sheet music has four pages of notes but that the music is printed on the inside of the first leaf, both sides of the second leaf, and inside of the third leaf, and that the outside of the first and second leaves is reserved for the title and advertising matter, respectively. The second leaf, if not loose, is cut out and inserted in the clips 13 of the right leaf-turning element, while the other leaves are folded back to back and inserted in the clips of the left leaf-turning element, it being first essential to set the mechanism by turning the handle 27 in a direction to engage the finger 21 under the spring-pressed trigger 22, and care is exercised in placing the leaves in the elements so that pages 1 and 2 of the notes will be simultaneously exposed to view in both elements. The music can now be played and as soon as the end of the second page is reached the player has merely to strike the key 23 to operate the releasing device and cause the spring 8 to turn the shaft 4 and simultaneously the elements B. By this means, the pages 4 and 3 will be exposed to view in the left and right elements B, respectively. If there is any music on the first and second pages to be repeated, the leaves are again turned to initial position by rc-setting the mechanism through the medium of the handle 27.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the inven tion appertains, and while I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. A music leaf turner comprising a plurality of turning elements adapted to hold independent leaves, separate pivots for the elements, each pivot being connected with the center of its respective element, a mechanism for turning the elements, and a controller for the mechanism.

2. A music leaf turner comprising centrally pivoted turning elements spaced apart to support independent leaves, and a mechanism for simultaneously turning the elements.

3. A music leaf turner comprising a plurality of pivoted leaf-turning elements, cranks connected with the elements, and a mechanism connected with the cranks for simultaneously turning the elements.

4. A music leaf turner comprising a plurality of pivot-ed leaf-turning elements, cranks connected with the elements, a mechanism connected with the cranks for simultaneously turning the elements, a device for holding the mechanism in set position, and a key for releasing the said device.

5. The combination of supporting structure, a shaft mounted thereon, separate leafturning elements, a pivot for each element disposed at the center thereof, a spring for turning the shaft in one direction, connections between the shaft and elements for turning the latter, a device for holding the shaft with the elements in set position against the tension of the spring, and means for resetting the shaft and elements.

6. The combination of a supporting structure, pivoted leaf-turning elements thereon, cranks connected with the elements, a member connecting the cranks together, a shaft on the structure, a crank on the shaft, a connec ion between the member and crank, means for actuating the shaft for turning the elements in one direction, and means on the shaft for turning the elements to set position by hand.

7. The combination of a supporting struc ture, a vertical shaft mounted thereon, a finger on the shaft, a spring pressed trigger releasably engaging the finger, .a stop on the structure with whicl'i the finger engages for limiting the turning movement of the shaft in one direction, a winding device connected with the shaft, an adjustable spring connected with the device to turn the shaft in one direction when the trigger is released, a handle connected with the shaft for turning the shaft against the tension of the spring and engaging the finger with the trigger, separate leaf-turning elements, and connecting elements between the shaft and elements.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BYRON C. HOWELL, Jn.

W itnesses:

JOHN A. BLAIR, C. S. MoUNrs. 

